EP1013762A2 - Delta ähnliches Gen welches in neuroendokrinen Tumoren exprimiert wird - Google Patents

Delta ähnliches Gen welches in neuroendokrinen Tumoren exprimiert wird Download PDF

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EP1013762A2
EP1013762A2 EP99126049A EP99126049A EP1013762A2 EP 1013762 A2 EP1013762 A2 EP 1013762A2 EP 99126049 A EP99126049 A EP 99126049A EP 99126049 A EP99126049 A EP 99126049A EP 1013762 A2 EP1013762 A2 EP 1013762A2
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dlk
polynucleotide molecule
human
tumor
cells
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EP1013762A3 (de
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Jorge Laborda
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US Department of Health and Human Services
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
    • C07K16/30—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants from tumour cells
    • C07K16/3023—Lung
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides

Definitions

  • genes during the development of a pluripotent or progenitor cell into a differentiated, mature cell can provide a context for the study of tumorigenic cells whose origin is derived from such progenitor cells.
  • malignant gene expression correlates substantially with the expression observed during normal development of the tissue from which the tumor originates, Gordon et al., J. Cell Biol. 108 : 1187 (1989); Godal et al., Adv. Cancer Res . 36 : 211 (1982).
  • many biological activities of progenitor cells including cellular migration and tissue remodeling, resemble pathological activities of cancer cells, such as metastases and tumor invasion.
  • Neuroblastoma a tumor of the adrenal gland which afflicts persons during early childhood, is another system in which tumor biology correlates with that of normal differentiation and morphogenesis of its progenitor cells (neuroblast).
  • Neuroblastoma is an embryonal tumor that exhibits both undifferentiated and differentiated histopathology. The development of neuroblastoma tumors mimics stages identifiable during histogenesis of its tissue of origin, the adrenal medulla. Cooper et al., Cell Growth and Diff . 1 : 149 (1989).
  • pG2 One of these marker genes, pG2, was identified first in pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adult adrenal medulla (Helman et al., PNAS USA 84 : 2336 (1987)). Helman reported that pG2 also is highly expressed normal human adrenal cells.
  • a gene having developmentally-regulated expression, paralleling that of pG2, would be useful for detecting pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma by genetic methods, especially since pG2 expression is restricted to the adrenal gland in non-malignant tissue.
  • SCLC primary or secondary small cell lung carcinoma
  • Dlk polynucleotide molecule, designated dlk , which encodes a corresponding Dlk polypeptide.
  • Dlk polypeptides are useful for generating monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies having specificity for an epitope of the Dlk polypeptide.
  • Dlk-specific antibodies and in particular, labeled monoclonal Dlk-specific antibodies, are useful for detection of primary or secondary neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Dlk-specific monoclonal antibodies conjugated to a toxin are useful for treatment of primary or secondary neuroendocrine tumors, as well.
  • an isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising a DNA sequence encoding a Dlk polypeptide.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an isolated Dlk polypeptide consisting essentially of the amino acid sequence shown in Figure 1B, or in Figure 1A.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an isolated polynucleotide molecule which encodes a human or mouse Dlk polypeptide consisting essentially of the amino acid sequence shown in Figures 1B, or 1A, respectively.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a method for detecting a tumor which expresses dlk, including the steps of contacting RNA from a sample suspected of being tumorigenic with a dlk polynucleotide molecule, under conditions permissive of hybridization between dlk polynucleotide molecule and the sample, and detecting hybridization between the polynucleotide molecule and sample.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method for detecting a small cell lung carcinoma, including the steps of contacting RNA from a sample of bronchial epithelial cells suspected of being tumorigenic with dlk polynucleotide molecules, under conditions permissive of hybridization between dlk polynucleotide molecules and the sample, and detecting hybridization between the polynucleotide molecules and sample.
  • dlk A human polynucleotide molecule, dlk , and a corresponding human polypeptide, Dlk, encoded by dlk , were discovered, isolated and characterized.
  • the human dlk polynucleotide molecule was found to be expressed in pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and SCLC tumors.
  • Dlk protein is about 383 amino acids in length and has a molecular weight of about 42 kDa.
  • other polynucleotide molecules belonging to the dlk family are provided according to the invention, including murine dlk ( Figure 3) and a human variant- dlk , isolated from placenta as described herein.
  • isolated polynucleotide molecules or fragments thereof belonging to the dlk family are useful in the detection of SCLC and neuroendocrine cancers.
  • the expression patterns of dlk can be exploited both (1) to detect primary or secondary tumor cells by the presence of dlk and (2) to diagnose the stage of a tumor that expresses dlk , by measuring the level of dlk expression.
  • Dlk is a transmembrane protein having an expression pattern, in normal non-fetal tissues, which is restricted to the adrenal gland.
  • Dlk is a readily accessible target for antibody imaging or therapy of SCLC, pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma tumors.
  • antibodies having specificity for the Dlk protein are made and employed to detect or treat cells which produce the Dlk protein.
  • Human dlk cDNA comprises a polynucleotide molecule having the sequence shown in Figure 2, as determined by nucleotide sequence analysis.
  • the open reading frame, nucleotides 174(ATG) - 1322(TAA), is 1149 nucleotides long.
  • the mouse dlk polynucleotide molecule comprises a DNA sequence having an open reading frame, nucleotides 134(ATG) - 1288 (TAA), of 1155 nucleotides, as shown in Figure 3.
  • the murine Dlk protein is about 385 amino acids and has a molecular weight of about 42 kDa.
  • a variant of human Dlk is identified in which an amino acid is deleted.
  • the placental library containing variant-dlk also contained substantial amounts of the non-variant form, that is, dlk polynucleotide molecule shown in Figure 1B.
  • the dlk polynucleotide molecule was identified by examination of cDNA expression products of human SCLC (hSCLC) lines which were responsive to stimulation with the ligand, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a neuropeptide implicated in the release of gastrin through its interaction with a G-protein-coupled receptor, GRP receptor.
  • GRP gastrin-releasing peptide
  • GRP receptor a G-protein-coupled receptor
  • GRP-responsive hSCLC lines were compared with murine fibroblast cell lines that were differentially responsive to GRP.
  • This approach yielded a partial length cDNA molecule that hybridized a 1.6 Kb mRNA expressed both in responsive fibroblasts and responsive SCLC lines.
  • a commercially available Swiss 3T3 fibroblast cDNA library was screened with the partial length cDNA, which yielded several clones having 1.6 Kb inserts, which then were sequenced.
  • dlk protein sequences share 86.2% identity as well as many potential sites of biological importance, including 6 epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats, a transmembrane domain, and a signal peptide domain at the amino terminus. Based upon these structural features, dlk appears to be a new member of the family of EGF-like neurogenic genes of Drosophila, which are involved in developmental decisions of the embryonal ectoderm to differentiate into epidermal or neuronal cells.
  • EGF epidermal growth factor
  • dlk functions in the differentiation pathway for cells of the chromaffin lineage.
  • dlk is expressed in primary and secondary pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma cells, and in normal (nonhistopathological) human adrenal medulla and placental cells.
  • SCLC and neuroblastoma are the only tumors known to express dlk as a function of differentiation.
  • dlk polynucleotide molecule DNA, RNA
  • Dlk protein dlk polynucleotide molecule
  • a Dlk polypeptide is produced by recombinant DNA techniques, such as those described by Maniatis et al., MOLECULAR CLONING - A LABORATORY MANUAL, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1982). Methods specifically applicable to cloning the dlk polynucleotide molecule are described in Example 1.
  • the dlk polynucleotide molecule of Figure 1B can be cloned into suitable expression vectors and expressed in prokaryotic, insect or eukaryotic expression systems, including Baculovirus or E. coli (Boehringer Manhein).
  • a polynucleotide sequence encoding a Dlk protein can be obtained as a cDNA from mRNA from a commercial adrenal medulla or Swiss 3T3 fibroblast library, or from SCLC, neuroblastoma or pheochromocytoma cell lines.
  • the mRNA can be converted to double-stranded DNA using cDNA cloning techniques well-known to the art, including PCR-based techniques.
  • Linkers or tails may be added to the ends of the double-stranded DNA to provide convenient restriction sites.
  • the DNA may be introduced into a cloning vector, such as a plasmid, which has been digested with a restriction enzyme that generates appropriately compatible ends.
  • a suitable plasmid vector in this context is pGEX- ⁇ (Pharmacia).
  • the DNA is introduced into a cell, where its expression produces the desired protein.
  • a Dlk polypeptide is produced using a commercially available in vitro translation kit from NEN (Boston, MA), as detailed in Example 1.
  • This kit employs a translation system (including ribosomes, polymerases, amino acids, etc.) derived from rabbit reticulocyte lysates.
  • isolated with reference to the dlk polynucleotide molecule indicates that such a molecule is free of the proteins with which it is normally associated, such as histones.
  • An isolated form of the dlk is substantially free of other DNA that does not function to regulate, promote, enhance or otherwise modulate its expression.
  • isolated with reference to Dlk protein, connotes a polypeptide that is free of other proteins with which it is normally associated.
  • an isolated dlk polynucleotide molecule is useful for detecting primary SCLC and the metastatic spread of SCLC and other neuroendocrine cancers. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of tumor detection which includes the steps of contacting a sample suspected of containing a tumor with a dlk polynucleotide molecule, and detecting expression of dlk polynucleotide products (DNA, RNA, mRNA) in non-adrenal cells. Detection of a dlk polynucleotide product identifies the cells as metastatic cells (secondary tumor) of neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma or SCLC, or as a primary tumor of SCLC.
  • dlk polynucleotide product identifies the cells as metastatic cells (secondary tumor) of neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma or SCLC, or as a primary tumor of SCLC.
  • a tumor type is determined by detecting either a tumor-specific marker, tumor-specific morphology, or by presentation by the patient of a clinical pathology that is distinctly associated with any of the tumors selected from the group including neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma or SCLC.
  • information such as the identification of a cellular marker, histological feature or disease symptom which is specific to one of the tumors of neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma or SCLC, is recognized.
  • dlk expression is detected in cells of a sample taken from bronchial epithelial tissue or tissue removed from the lung, the observation identifies a primary SCLC. It is preferred that a second step of confirming the origin of the detected dlk -expressing tumor cells as SCLC be performed by detection of a marker, histological feature, or presentation of a distinctive symptom associated with this tumor. For example the histology of an "oat cell" commonly associated with SCLC is detected to confirm the presence of SCLC.
  • the expression of dlk is detected by hybridization with a dlk polynucleotide probe.
  • This method includes the steps of contacting a suspected tumor sample with a dlk polynucleotide molecule, and detecting the hybridization between the polynucleotide molecule and sample. A positive hybridization signal indicates that the sample is of tumor origin.
  • the polynucleotide molecule or " dlk probe" used to detect dlk expression is a labeled fragment of dlk , or preferably a full-length dlk DNA molecule which will hybridize to mRNA or DNA from normal adrenal and neuroendocrine tumor cells.
  • Probes complementary to dlk are prepared by conventional methods, and are preferably allowed to hybridize to mRNA or DNA, using conventional in situ hybridization techniques. Unhybridized probe is removed by nuclease digestion.
  • In situ hybridization techniques which are known in the art may employ the use of fluorescent labels and radiolabels which can be easily quantitated by fluorescence microscopy or autoradiography, respectively. Generally, fluorescent labels will be preferred.
  • Another labelling technique may employ enzymatic tags which generate readily quantifiable colorimetric or chemiluminescent signals. The hybridization intensity detected in their procedures reflects the amount of dlk within the biological sample.
  • RNA is first isolated from tissue by any of a number of standard procedures (Lehrach, H., Biochemistry , 16 : 4743 (1975)). The RNA sample is then subjected to denaturing gel electrophoresis and is transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane or other solid support matrix.
  • the dlk mRNA can be detected by hybridization of radioactively or non-radioactively labelled dlk , or dlk fragments, preferably under high stringency conditions as would be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art. The amount of hybridization can be quantified by densitometry.
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • a pair of dlk sequence specific polynucleotide primers is employed, which hybridize to opposite strands of the dlk gene at offset positions on the double helix.
  • Such primers taken from the dlk polynucleotide sequences provided in accordance with the invention, represent fragments which preferably are unique to dlk , e.g., sequences having low homology with other proteins than Dlk.
  • Two exemplary dlk -specific primer sequences useful in this context include the following sequences, which encode a portion of the intracellular region of Dlk:
  • the primers provide initiation points for DNA synthesis.
  • the four deoxynucleotide triphosphates (“dNTPs") and other necessary cofactors all of which are well known to the art, new DNA strands are synthesized complementary to the templates which hybridized with the primers.
  • dNTPs deoxynucleotide triphosphates
  • Several rounds of synthesis are carried out, with allowance for denaturation of the double stranded products between rounds.
  • a thermal stable DNA polymerase is used so that it is not necessary to add enzyme anew for each round of synthesis.
  • the PCR produces a double stranded DNA amplification product which has the same sequence as the original stretch of the dlk DNA defined by the ends of the primer pair sequences.
  • the amount of PCR product indicates the amount of dlk DNA or dlk mRNA in the sample.
  • the product can be detected by a variety of methods well-known in the art.
  • the PCR products can be resolved by agarose or polyacrylamide electrophoresis and detected by fluorescence staining, such as ethidium bromide.
  • one of the dNTPs may be labelled and the PCR products may be determined by measuring incorporation of the labelled dNTP.
  • a variety of other methods for resolving, detecting and quantitating PCR products are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the PCR may be made specific for either dlk DNA or dlk mRNA.
  • RNAse or DNAse may be used to remove one template or the other from the sample, and the use of primers that distinguish between the gene and the message, for example, a primer that hybridizes to a sequence in the untranscribed region of the promoter will be specific for the dlk gene, and not for the dlk mRNA.
  • Antibodies having specificity for Dlk-expressing cells are obtained by immunizing an animal with Dlk protein.
  • the term "antibody” encompasses both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. such an antibody can belong to any antibody class (IgG, IgM, IgA, etc.).
  • an entire Dlk polypeptide is injected into an animal for the purpose of obtaining polyclonal antibodies, or for obtaining lymphocytes or spleen cells for production of monoclonal antibodies.
  • MAb monoclonal antibody
  • This procedure includes the steps of isolating lymphocytes of an animal which has been sensitized or injected with Dlk polypeptide, fusing them with a myeloma partner to produce hybridomas, then screening the hybridomas for production of "anti-Dlk antibodies" which exhibit binding specificity for a Dlk polypeptide.
  • Antibody also encompasses fragments, like FAb and F(Ab 1 ) 2 , of anti-Dlk antibodies, and conjugates of such fragments, and so-called "antigen binding proteins" (single-chain antibodies) which are based on anti-Dlk antibodies, in accordance, for example, with U.S. patent No. 4,704,692, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • MAbs or fragments thereof can be produced via the expression of genes which encode variable regions of such an MAb in host cells like E. coli , see, e.g., Ward et al., Nature 341 : 544-546 (1989), or transfected murine myeloma cells.
  • Assays in which the above antibodies are employed can include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), radioimmunoassays, immunoelectrophoresis, and the like. Also useful diagnostically are immunohistochemical techniques which employ monoclonal antibodies of known reactivity.
  • ELISAs enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays
  • radioimmunoassays radioimmunoassays
  • immunoelectrophoresis and the like.
  • Also useful diagnostically are immunohistochemical techniques which employ monoclonal antibodies of known reactivity.
  • a sample is obtained from a person to detect: (1) a small cell lung carcinoma, by removing a body fluid or tissue suspected of harboring a tumor, such as alveolar, bronchiolar, or respiratory epithelial cells obtained from a bronchial wash, nasopharyngeal aspirates, throat swabs or the like; (2) a metastasized neuroendocrine tumor, by biopsy, taken from tissue other than the adrenal gland (including cortex and medulla. Immuno-histochemical studies can be performed on such cells using a monoclonal antibody specific for Dlk.
  • a tumor such as alveolar, bronchiolar, or respiratory epithelial cells obtained from a bronchial wash, nasopharyngeal aspirates, throat swabs or the like
  • a metastasized neuroendocrine tumor by biopsy, taken from tissue other than the adrenal gland (including cortex and medulla. Immuno-histochemical studies can be performed on such cells using a monoclonal antibody specific
  • kits containing an anti-Dlk antibody which undergoes a reaction with a biological sample to detect Dlk protein.
  • a reaction involves the binding of anti-Dlk antibody to Dlk antigen, under conditions permissive of binding.
  • a kit of this sort could be used to detect the extent of expression of Dlk in a particular biological sample from an individual, animal, or cell line.
  • Such an immunodiagnostic kit can include anti-Dlk antibody and a receptacle for containing the antibody in a sterilized form.
  • the kit can further include anti-isotype serum antibody which recognizes the anti-Dlk antibody (Fc portion) and which is conjugated to a label, such as an enzyme or fluorescent moiety.
  • a radiolabeled anti-Dlk antibody is provided.
  • Such an antibody preferably a monoclonal antibody, is administered to an animal or person for imaging purposes.
  • a gamma camera machine is applied to detect the presence of labeled antibodies within the organism.
  • Such a procedure provides information as to where in the organism a primary or secondary Dlk-expressing neuroendocrine tumor is located.
  • a therapeutic application of anti-Dlk monoclonal antibodies includes administration of anti-Dlk immunotoxins.
  • Hertler et al., J. Clin. Oncol . 7(12) : 1932 (1989) describe methodologies for creating an antibody-toxin linkage, and is incorporated by reference herein.
  • the anti-Dlk monoclonal antibody-toxin conjugates described are administered to an individual to target and selectively kill Dlk-expressing cells present in neuroendocrine tumors.
  • kits which contains anti-Dlk immunotoxins in a receptacle.
  • a kit can include the anti-Dlk immunotoxins and a pharmaceutical excipient in a receptacle.
  • GRP gastrin-releasing peptide
  • a differential cDNA library was constructed that was enriched for clones expressed in Swiss 3T3 but not in Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts.
  • the differential library of Swiss 3T3 compared with Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts was constructed as explained in detail in Timblin et al., Nucleic Acids Res . 18 : 1587 (1990).
  • the RNA isolation, electrophoresis, northern blots, and hybridization techniques were performed as described in Davis, et al., BASIC METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Elsevier, New York, (1986).
  • nucleic acid probes were labelled with 32 P dCTP (Amersham, Arlington Heights, IL) by random priming as described in Ausubel et al., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley and Sons, New York 3.5.9.-3.5.10 (1991).
  • This partial length clone was then used to screen a commercially available oligo dT-primed cDNA library of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts in the ⁇ ZAPII vector (Stratagene (La Jolla, CA)), to obtain a full length clone.
  • the dlk mRNA was selected by hybridization of poly A+ RNA from Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts with denatured full-length dlk immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. ( dlk mRNA was selected by hybridization of 2 ⁇ g of poly A+ Swiss 3T3 RNA with 5 ⁇ g of nitrocellulose-immobilized denatured dlk .) The bound RNA was eluted by boiling. Mouse dlk mRNA was also prepared in vitro using two different full length dlk cDNAs cloned in pGEM4Z (Promega). These three mRNAs were used as templates for in vitro translation.
  • Mouse and human dlk polynucleotide sequences are 86.2% identical and 90.1% similarity in their amino acid sequence. They share many potential sites of biological activity, including 6 EGF-like repeats (highly homologous to those found in invertebrate neurogenic proteins) an integral transmembrane domain and a signal peptide domain.
  • dlk expression was detected according to the present invention, only in adrenal and placental tissue. Similarly, pG2 expression was known to be restricted to adrenal glands in normal human tissues.
  • the dlk mRNA was detected by Northern analysis in human and rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell lines.
  • pG2 was identified in pheochromocytoma cell lines by Helman et al., PNAS USA 84 : 2336 (1987).
  • dlk was detected in neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cells.
  • pG2 expression in neuroblastoma cell lines was detected in differentiated cells, but absent from undifferentiated neuroblastoma cell lines.
  • cells which express dlk identified by the present invention include certain SCLC cell lines.
  • murine Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts were found to express dlk using a human dlk probe under high stringency conditions.
  • Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were found to express dlk using a human dlk probe under high stringency conditions.
  • Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts RNA were negative for dlk expression under these conditions.
  • cDNA clones were isolated from a ⁇ gt10 human adrenal gland library (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) using mouse dlk as a hybridization probe. Even under low stringency conditions, no clones were isolated which encoded proteins having structural characteristics similar to those reported for pG2.
  • the cDNA inserts from positive ⁇ clones were subcloned into pGEM4Z (Promega, Madison WI) and sequenced according to the method of Example 1. Polynucleotide sequence data from several full-length clones indicated that these cDNAs showed a 82.1% sequence identity with mouse dlk and encoded the human homolog of the mouse dlk protein (Fig. 1).
  • Dlk's structural characterization is very different from that predicted for pG2 protein (Helman et al., supra . (1987).
  • the former protein consists of a 286 amino acid sequence (about 30 kDa), contains no EGF-like repeats and no signal peptide or transmembrane domains. This was so, despite a finding of an 81.2% nucleotide sequence identity of dlk with pG2 is identified correctly as the dlk polynucleotide molecule shown in Figure 1.
  • the dlk nucleic acid sequence shows a high degree of homology with the EGF-like neurogenic genes of Drosophila , which are involved in the decisions taken by the cells of the embryonal ectoderm to differentiate into epidermal or neuronal cells.
  • Genes which were found to have highest homology to Dlk include: Delta, Notch and Serrate of D. melanogaster , lin-12 and glpl of C. elegans , and uEGF1 of the sea urchin.
  • the degree of homology varied between the individual proteins and Dlk, regions of maximum homology exhibited up to 33% amino acid identity, which rose to around 75%, with allowance for conservative amino acid substitutions.
  • Figure 4 shows the alignment of mouse or human dlk EGF-like repetitive sequences with consensus sequences of EGF sequence repeats of several proteins.
  • the alignment of the EGF-like repeats was done using the program CLUSTAL, described by Higgins et al., Gene 73 : 237 (1988).
  • the sites of potential biological importance were analyzed with the program PROSITE. Residues highly conserved among homeotic genes also are conserved in dlk . This finding confirms that dlk is a member of the family of EGF-like homeotic genes.
  • the amino acid sequence and structure of the EGF-like repeats, as well as the overall structure of dlk , are more related to the invertebrate homeotic genes than to other vertebrate non-homeotic EGF-like proteins, such as EGF-precursor, TGF ⁇ , the ⁇ , ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 chains of laminin, coagulation factors, or complement proteins, previously thought to be the mammalian counterparts of the invertebrate homeotic genes.
  • the dlk gene was detected in species ranging from birds to human, including: yeast, Drosophilia, Xenopus , mouse, rat, rabbit, chicken, dog, cow, monkey and human. However, despite the structural homology with invertebrate proteins, the dlk gene is absent from invertebrates and lower vertebrates.
  • dlk was detected by Northern analysis in SCLC lines NCI-H510, NCI-H69 and NCI-N592; in human neuroblastoma line SK-N-SH, and in the rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cell line. Twenty ⁇ g of total RNA or 2 ⁇ g of poly A+ were separated in a 1% agarose gel and then blotted to a nitrocellulose filter (described in Example 1).

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EP99126049A 1992-12-11 1993-12-10 Delta ähnliches Gen welches in neuroendokrinen Tumoren exprimiert wird Withdrawn EP1013762A3 (de)

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US7655763B2 (en) 2002-10-22 2010-02-02 Wyeth Neutralizing antibodies against GDF-8 and uses therefor

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IL101728A (en) * 1991-05-03 2007-08-19 Univ Yale Human Abandonment and Delta, Restrictive Areas of Effect in Tophoric Proteins, and Methods Based on Them
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US5644031A (en) 1997-07-01
WO1994013701A3 (en) 1995-11-23
ES2151542T3 (es) 2001-01-01
EP0673390B1 (de) 2000-07-12
EP1013762A3 (de) 2000-10-11
ATE194653T1 (de) 2000-07-15
DE69329037T2 (de) 2001-03-22
WO1994013701A2 (en) 1994-06-23
AU677623B2 (en) 1997-05-01
AU5746894A (en) 1994-07-04
PT673390E (pt) 2001-01-31
US5580738A (en) 1996-12-03
DK0673390T3 (da) 2000-11-13
EP0673390A1 (de) 1995-09-27

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